New judges arrive in Victorville

Sunday

Jan 9, 2011 at 10:45 AM

Tomoya Shimura

VICTORVILLE • Three new appointed and elected judges were assigned to Victorville Superior Court as the new calendar year began.

Judge Debra Harris transferred from Joshua Tree to take on one of Victorville's two family court calendars. Harris, a Republican, replaces Robert Lemkau who was turned out of office and retired from the bench last month.

The Victorville resident was appointed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in July 2009 after she worked for the San Bernardino County Public Defender's office for 15 years.

Judge Lynn Poncin, who was elected in June in an unopposed judicial race, begins her bench tenure in criminal court, where she was a lead family violence prosecutor. She worked for the San Bernardino County District Attorney's office for 13 years.

On her election website, Poncin stated she would continue to protect victims of crime and give them a voice in the courtroom.

Judge Elia Pirozzi is scheduled to start his criminal court calendar in Victorville on Jan. 24, moving from Superior Court in Rancho Cucamonga, where he resides. Schwarzenegger appointed him in May 2007.

Prior to his judgeship, Pirozzi maintained law offices in Ontario and Redlands, specializing in real estate and business law. Pirozzi is a former candidate for Congress and State Assembly and former chairman of the San Bernardino County Republican Party.

Judge James Hosking, who defeated Lemkau in the June election, has been assigned to the family court in Joshua Tree.

Former Victorville judges Christopher Marshall and Bridgid McCann were transferred to San Bernardino and Rancho Cucamonga, respectively.

To read more about the new judges, see the full story in Monday's Daily Press. Get complete stories every day with the "exactly as printed" Daily Press E-edition, only $5 per month! Click here to try it free for 7 days. To subscribe to the Daily Press in print or online, call (760) 241-7755, 1-800-553-2006 or click here.

Tomoya Shimura may be reached at tshimura@VVDailyPress.com or (760) 955-5368.